Beginning Friday, Sept. 21 through Sunday, Sept. 23, recreational anglers will again have an opportunity to harvest red snapper. DNR biologists are eager to obtain biological information from those fish. "We really need the help of recreational anglers for this data collection effort to be successful," said Mel Bell, Director of the Marine Division's Office of Fisheries Management. By providing data on any red snapper caught, anglers are contributing to our understanding of the current condition of the stock and long-term sustainability of the fishery.

For South Carolina anglers, this is a chance to contribute towards the management of the red snapper fishery in the South Atlantic. Because there is a need for these samples, DNR is encouraging anglers who catch any red snapper during this period to please participate in this data collection effort.

Anglers may donate their red snapper carcasses to the DNR by dropping them off at any one of the drop off sites (designated freezers) including Fish On Outfitters, 800 Sea Mountain Hwy., North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582; Harrelson’s Seafood Mkt., 4368 U.S. 17 Business, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576; Georgetown Landing Marina, 432 Marina Drive Georgetown, SC 29440; The Boathouse Restaurant, 397 Squire Pope Rd, Hilton Head Island, SC 29926. Freezers with the DNR logo have been placed at these locations and can be accessed 24 hours a day. Get more information on the Carcass Drop Off Program.

In addition, boats that are returning through Charleston Harbor, can come by water to the Marine Resources Center at Fort Johnson Marine, to have their red snapper sampled. This on site sampling is available on the specified dates (Sept. 21, 22, 23) between the hours of 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Anglers can also contribute catch and fishing effort information during the seasons through an online survey. The online surveys will be used to collect basic information about an angler's fishing trip, including date, length, and location of a fishing trip, as well as the number and size of fish landed and/or released.